2 Ind. officers injured in suspect pursuit

The Associated Press

RICHMOND, Ind. — Two police officers were injured Tuesday during a pursuit near the Indiana-Ohio border when they were struck by vehicles -- one by a pickup truck driven by a suspected bank robber, the other by a police cruiser, authorities said.

Richmond officers Mark Sutton and Kevin Smith were attempting to stop a pickup truck driven by a man suspected of robbing a bank in Huber Heights, Ohio, authorities said.

Richmond Police Chief Kris Wolski said the officers' injuries were minor and that both are expected to return to work Wednesday. Both were treated at a hospital.

The officers were setting out spikes on Interstate 70 just east of the border to stop the truck when it hit one of the men and then struck their squad car, which spun into the median and hit the other officer, Wayne County Sheriff Matt Strittmatter said.

Huber Heights, Ohio, police Officer Mark Bruns said a local businessman saw the suspect leave the bank and followed the truck onto I-70 before authorities took on the chase.

The suspect had slowed down when he blew out a rear wheel driving over spikes police had placed about 10 miles from the border, Bruns said.

He said a paper covering the truck's license plate came off during the chase, and that the truck had been stolen from New Jersey.

The suspect was taken to a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, Bruns said, and was to be booked in the Preble County, Ohio, jail. Charges were pending.

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